Geared control mechanism



Nov. 5, 1935. w. H. GILLE ET AL 2,019,671

GEARED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 29. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 73 a1 6' 7 INVENTORS wu.us H. 611.1..5 GEORGE D. BOWER ATToHNLYQ Nov. 5, 1935.

W. H. GILLE ET'AL GEARED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIS H. GILLE 'GEORE 0. Bowen ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATE-S- 1 z,oi9, 71

PATENT OFFICE GEABED CONTROL MECHANISM Willis H. Gille, St. Paul, and George D. Bower.

Columbia Heights, Minn, assignora to Mln'neapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application July 29, 1932, Serial No. 625,580 15 Claims. (01. rat-139) a suitable gear reductions.

The primary object of the invention is the utilization of a gear reduction of the type in which the actuator is operatively connected to the control mechanism when one of the gears of the gear reduction isheld stationary or prevented from rotating and is operatively disconnected therefrom when the gear is allowed to move or rotate.

Specifically the invention provides for the operation of a control mechanism that is biased to one position, by an electric motor through the medium of a planetary gearing arrangement which couples the motor to the control mechanism when one of the gears of the planetary gearing arrangement is held against rotation. Whenever this gear is freed for rotation the control mechanism moves to its biased position under the influence of its bias without rotating the whole planetary gearing arrangement and electric motor in the reverse direction. This is accomplished simply by preventing or allowing rotation of one of the gears as the case may be and does not require the meshing or unmeshing of the gears in any manner whatsoever. v

Such a mechanism readily lends itself to the control of a gas valve which is normally biased to closed position, and which it is desired to open slowly and close quickly. A further object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of actuating mechanism for a gas valve normally biased to closed position which actuating mechanism includes a planetary gearing arrangement arranged in such a manner that when one of the gears of the planetary gearing arrangement is prevented from rotating the gas valve is slowly opened by means of the full gear reduction of the planetary gearing arrangement and when said gear is released the valve quickly closes under its bias without rotating the whole planetary gear arrangement in reverse direction.

It will readily be appreciated that for electrical operation, the means for preventing rotation of one of the gears could well be electrically connectcd to the power source so that on a failure in the supply of the electricity the gear would be freed for rotation thus allowing the control mechan'sm to move to its biased position.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds. For a more complete understanding of-the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which, a

Fig. lis a view showing the invention applied to a gas valve, the valve being in section and the I front gear plate being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the gear drive.

Fig. 3 is a. schematic diagram showing one manner in which the valve may be controlled.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention as herein illustrated comprises a valve casing l having inlet and outlet ports II and I2, and a partition l3 therebetween which is provided with a valve opening it. The valve casing III is fur- Ill ther provided with avertically extending cylindrical portion l5 that is provided with screw threads on its outer surface. A cup-shaped member It has a'large 'disc I1 and a smaller disc ll secured to its under side by any suitable means such as the rivets ID. A bonnet 2|! engages disc I! and cooperates with the screw threads formed on extension ii to clamp cup member I. and discs ll and I8 to valve casing ii. A sealing gasket 2i is preferably interposed between cylindrical extension l5 and disc I! to prevent the escape of gas or other fluid flowing through the valve casing iii. A guide bushing 22 for a valve stem 23 passes through cup member I and discs l1 and I8 and is preferably secured to cup member It by having its end peened over. The upper portion of valve stem 21 is threaded and has a pair of diaphragm clamping discs 24 threaded thereon. A diaphragm 25 is clamped between discs 24 and a nut 26 threaded on valve stem 23 engages the upper diaphragm clamping disc 24 to help retain it in its proper position. Diaphragm 25 acts as a sealing-oil diaphragm to prevent the escape of gas from valve casing Ill to the atmosphere and is clamped between a circular base plate 21 and cup member it by means of screws and nuts 28.

A screw 29 first receives a washer 80, then a valve disc 31 and a valve disc retainer 32 which are clamped on screw 29 by means of a nut 23. Screw 29 is provided with a bore ll of somewhat larger diameter than the valve stem 23 and loose- 1y receives the lower end of valve stem 22. Valve stem 23 is secured to screw 29 by a small pin 25 which passes through valve stem 23 and screw 5 29. A coil spring 36 has its upper end abutting disc l8 and its lower end abutting a spring retainer 31 which is slidably received on valve stem 23 and has its downward motion limited by a washer 38 that engages a circumferential groove 5 secured thereto which support the various operat-- ing mechanisms for moving valve disc'll away from valve opening .l4 against the bias of coil spring 35. A lever is pivoted on a shaft v42 which is journalled in plates 35 and 4|I; A

U-shaped member 43 is loosely pivoted to lever 4 I.

as indicated at 44 and loosely receives the upper end of valve rod 23 which is supp ied with a nut 45 whereby clockwise rotation of lever 4| about its pivot causes valve disc 3| to be raised against the bias of coil spring 35. A motor 45 is secured to the plate 39 and its rotor shaft 41 extends through plate 35 and terminates between plates 39 and 45. A shaft 45 which is-Journalled in plates 39 and 45 has a gear 45 loosely mounted thereon which meshes with a pinion 55 'secured to rotor shaft 41. Two stud shafts 5| are secured to gear 49 at diametrically spaced points near the periphery thereof. Each of these stud shafts 5| journals a pair of pinions 52 and 53 which are "secured together. The, pinions 53 are provided with a smaller number of teeth than the pinions 52, and in this particular embodiment of the invention the pinions 53 have one less tooth than the pinions 52. Pinions" mesh with a gear 54 and 36 pinions 53 mesh with a gear 55 which is integral with a pinion 55 loosely mounted on shaft 45. Gear 54 is secured to shaft 45. Pinion 55 meshes with the gear of a gear and pinion assembly 51 mounted on a shaft 55 which is journalled in plates 39 and 40 and the pinion of gear and pinion assembly 51 meshes with a relatively largegear 55 which is mounted on a shaft 55 that is also journalled in plates 39 and 45. Shaft extends in front of plate 45 and has a short rod 5| secured 40 thereto at right angles with the axis of shaft 45. Gear 59 carries a pin 52 which upon rotation of gear 59 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 is adapted to engage the hooked end of a lever 53 which is pivoted to lever 4| as indicated at 54. 46 Lever 53 is normally biased to engage the hub of gear 59 by means of a spring 55 which engages the left hand side of lever 53 and is then wrapped around pivot 54 and a pin- 55 carried by lever 4|. A spring finger 51 is secured to plate 35 and extends over the end of lever 4|. Spring finger 51 carries a contact 55 which cooperates with a contact 59 can-led on? the upper surface of a spring finger 10 which is also secured to plate 39, 55 but does not extend over lever 4|. By this arrangement when lever 4| has been rotated clockwise sufiiciently to open the valve it engages spring finger 51 so as to separate contacts 55 and 55.

A bracket II is secured to plate 40 by any means 40 such as screws 12 and supports an electro-magnetic coil 13 which has an armature 14 that is pivoted on a bearingplate 15 carried by bracket ll Armature I4 is provided with a lateral extension l5 and is normally biased to the position shown by a coiled spring 11. When the armature I4 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lateral extension 15 is out of the path of the end of rod 5|, but when magnet coil 13 is energized so as to 70 attract armature 14 extension 15 is placed in the path of the rod 5|. Armature 14 carries a spring finger 15 having a contact 15 which engages a contact 50 carried by a spring finger 5| secured to plate 45 when armature I4 is attracted by a 5- magnet coil 13.

Operation Fig. 3 of the drawings shows one manner in which the valve of Figs. 1 and 2 may be controlled. In this particular type of control a thermostat of the holding type has been illustrated and comprises a bimetallic element 52 fixed at one end. The free end of the bimetallic element 52 carries spring fingers I3 and 54 which support contacts 35 and that are sequentially engagem able with contacts 51 and 55 on temperature fall. The source of power is herein shown as a stepdown transformer generally indicated at 59 which comprises a high voltage primary III and a low voltage secondary 5|.

When contact 55 engages contact 51 and then contact 55 engages contact 55 on temperature fall an energizing circuit for magnet coil I5 is established as follows: secondary 5|, wire 32, contacts 51, 55, fingers I3, 54, contacts 55, 55, wires 53, 54, m magnet coil 13, and wires 55 and 55 to secondary 5|. An energizing circuit for motor 55 is also established as follows: Secondary 5| 52, 51, 55, 53, 54, 55, 55, 53, wire 51, finger 51, contacts 55, 59, finger 13, wire 55, motor 45, wire 55, and 55 to secondary 5|. Energization of magnet coil 13 attracts armature 14 to close contacts I5 and 55 to establish a holding circuit for magnet coil 13 as follows: secondary 5| 52, 51, 55, 53, bimetallic element 52, wire I05, armature 14, contacts 19, 55, 80

wire IOI, 53, 94 magnet coil 13, 55, and 55 to5l. A similar holding circuit is also established for motor 45.

The motor 45 being energized rotates pinion 55 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in 35 Fig. 1. Pinion 55 in turn rotates gear 49 in a clockwise direction. Because of the friction between pinion 55, gear and pinion assembly 51 and gear 55 it can be considered that gear 55 remains relatively stationary. Pinions 55, 0 therefore, rotate around gear 55 in a clockwise direction and also turn about stud shafts 5| in a clockwise direction. Pinions 52 which are secured to pinions 55 therefore drive gear 54 in a counter-clockwise direction until rod 5| engages extension '|5 of armature I4, it being remembered that extension 15 was moved into the path of rod 5| upon energization of magnet coil I3. When rod 5| engages extension I5 gear 54 is held stationary. Pinions 52 now rotate around 50 gear 54 in a clockwise direction and rotate about the stud shafts 5| in a clockwise direction thereby driving pinions 53 in the same direction which in turn rotate gear 55 and pinion 55 in a clockwise direction. Gear 55 and pinion 55 are rotated clockwise at a very'slow rate of speed because pinions 53 have one less tooth than pinions 52. Pinion 55 drives gear and pinion assembly 51 in a counter-clockwise direction which in turn rotates gear 55 clockwise. As gear 59 continues 6 to rotate pin 52 will engage the hooked end po tion of lever 53 to rotate lever 4| and open the valve against the bias of coil spring 35. When the valve reaches its full open position lever 4| engages finger 51 to separate contacts 58 and 55 thereby breaking the circuit to motor 45. The valve will be maintained in its open position by reason of engagement of the end of rod 5| with extension 15 of armature 14. Contacts 55 and 59 may be omitted if desired and the motor 45 stalled when the valve has been moved to full open position.

When the temperature of bimetallic element 52 rises sufiiciently to disengage contact 55 from contact 53 and then contact 55 from contact 51,

magnet coil 13 will be deenergized allowing armature 14 to move to the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein extension 16 moves out of the path of the end of rod II. This frees shaft 48 and gear 54 for rotation. Coil spring 88 moves lever 4| to the position shown in Fig. 1 and lever 63 rotates gear 59 in counter-clockwise direction. This rotates gear and pinion assembly 51 in a clockwise direction which in turn drives gear,and pinion 55 and 56 respectively in a counter-clockwise direction. Gear 55 rotates pinions 53 in a clockwise direction about stud shafts 5| and pinions 52 which are secured to pinions 53 drive gear 54 and shaft ll in a counter-clockwise direction. Gear 9 stands still. This reverse rotation of the several gears and pinions takes place very quickly so that the valve closes substantially immediately upon deenergization of magnet coil 13. In order to prevent undue continued movement of pin, 62 away from lever 63 gear 59 may be provided with a second pin I02 which engages the left hand oi. lever 63.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that this invention utilizes a planetary gearing arrangement in a novel manner so that a gas valve or other similar control mechanism which is normally biased toone position may be moved slowly to a second position against its bias by the expenditure of a proportionately small amount of energy and subsequently returned to its first position under its bias in a very short time. While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in which planetary gearing has been utilized it is to be understood that any other suitable type of gearing which is operatively connected when one of the gears is prevented from rotating could be substituted therefor.

While the invention has been particularly de scribed in connection with the valve or other control mechanism which is moved to one position rather slowly and is allowed to quickly move to its other position, it is to be understood .that the invention is also well adapted for use as a socalled power failure safety mechanism wherein the valve or other control mechanism is normally moved to each of its positions by the power of the motor 46 and in which the magnet coil 13 is constantly energized to hold the gear 54. In this manner there would normally always be a driving connection between the motor and the control mechanism, but upon failure of electrical power magnet coil 13 would be deenergized so as to allow the control mechanism to move to a safe position since it cannot be automatically controlled until power is resumed.

-While a specific embodiment of the invention has been herein described, it is to be understood that we are to be limited only in the purview of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising, an actuator, a gear train connected thereto, a control mechanism biased to one position and connected to the gear train for movement against its bias to another position by the actuator, said .gear train including a gear which operatively connects the actuator to the control mechanism when the gear is prevented from rotating, and electrically controlled means for preventing rotation of said gear when energized, said gear train being non-reversible when said gear is held against rotation.

2. A device of the class described, comprising,

an actuator, a gear train connected thereto, a control mechanism biased to one position and connected to the gear train for movement against its bias to another position by the actuator. said gear train including a gear which operatively 5 connects the actuator to the control mechanism when the gear isprevented from rotating, said biasing means having sufficient strength to move the control mechanism to said one position only when said gear is permitted to rotate, and an m electro-magnet for preventing rotation of said gear when energized, said gear train being nonreversible when said gear is held against rotation.

3. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, an electrically operated actuator, a control mechanism biased to one position, a a gear train connecting the actuator to the control mechanism, said gear train including a gear which when held against rotation operatively connects the actuator to the control mechanism, electrically controlled means for holding said gear against rotation when energized whereby the control mechanism may be moved against its bias to a second position by the actuator when energized, and means for deenergizing the actuator without deenergizing the holding means when the control mechanism has been moved to its second position, said gear train being nonreversible when said gear is held against rotation.

4. A device 01' the class described, comprising, in combination, an electrically operated actuator, a gear train connected thereto, a control mechanism operated by the gear train in one direction, said gear train including a gear which when held against rotation operatively connects the actuator to the control mechanism electrically operated means for holding said gear against rotation, biasing means of sufllcient strength to operate the control mechanism in the opposite direction only when said gear is free to rotate, and means for simultaneously energizing and separately deenergizing said actuator and holding means, said gear train being non-reversible when said gear is held against rotation.

5. A slow opening and quick closing valve, comprising, a valve biased to closed position, an actuator, a gear train connecting the valve and actuator, said gear train including a gear which when held against rotation operatively connects the actuator to the valve whereby the valve is so slowly opened against its bias, means for holding said gear against rotation, and means for operatively rele'asingthe valve from the actuator to allow the same to return to closed position under the influence of its bias by releasing said holding means.

6. A slow opening and quick closing valve, comprising, a valve biased to closed position, an electric motor, agear train connected between the motor and valve, said gear train including a gear which when held against rotation operatively connects the motor to the valve through the gear train whereby the valve may be, slowly opened against its bias, electrically controlled means for holding said gear against rotation, said gear when released allowing the valve to move quickly to its biased closed position without rotating the whole geartrain and motor in the reverse direction, and means for simultaneously energizing and separately deenergizing said motor and holding means.

7. A slow opening and quick closing valve, comprising, a valve b ased to closed position, an electric motor, a gear train connected to the motor and valve, said gear train including a gear which when held against rotation operatively connects prising, a valve biased to closed position, an elec-" tric motor, a gear train connected to the motor Y and valve, said gear train including a gear which when held against rotation operatively connects the motor to the valve through the gear train whereby the valve may be slowly opened against its bias, an electromagnet for holding said gear against rotation when energized, and a switch operated by the valve when moved to its open position for deenergizing the motor, said valve bias being sufilclent to quickly move the valve to closed position when said gear isreleased for rotation by said holding means upon deenergization 01 said electromagnet.

9. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, a control mechanism normally biased to one position, a planetary gear train connected thereto, an electrically'operated actuator for the planetary gear train, and electrically operated means for holding one 01' the gears oi. the planetary gear train stationary whereby the control mechanism is moved to a second position against its bias through the complete planetary gearing, and on release of said gear the control mechanism is moved to its biased position without revolving the complete planetary gearing in its reverse direction, and means for simultaneously energizing and separately deenergizing said actuator and holding means.

10. A device or the class described comprising in combination, a control mechanism biased to one position, an actuator for moving the control mechanism against its bias to a second position, a gear train between the control mechanism and the actuator including one gear which when held stationary operatively connects the control mechanism to the actuator and when released operatively disconnects the control mechanism from the actuator, means for operating said actuator and simultaneously holding said one gear to permit the actuator to slowly move the control mechanism to its second position, said means being operative to continue to hold said gear thereby to maintain said control mechanism in its second position and for subsequently releasing said holding means to permit the control mechanism to return quickly to its biased position, said gear train being non-reversible when said gear is held against rotation.

l l. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a control mechanism biased to one position, an actuator for moving the control mechanism against its bias to a second position, a gear train between the control mechanism and the actuator including an element which when held stationary operatively connects the control mechanism to the actuator and when released operatively disconnects the control mechanism from the actuator, said biasing means having sufilcient strength to move said control mechanism to said one position only when said element is released, an electromagnet which when energized holds said element to permit the actuator to slowly move the control mechanism to its second position and then to hold said control mechanism in its second position, means for rendering the actuator inactive as soon as the control mechanism reaches its second position, and means for thereafter deenergizing said electromagnet to per- I mit the control mechanism to return quickly to its bias position, said gear train being non-reversible while said element is held stationary. s

12. A device oi the class described comprising in combination a control mechanism biased to one in position, an electric motor for moving the control a mechanism against its bias to a second position, a gear train between the control mechanism and the motor including one gear which when held stationary operatively connects" the control mechl5 anism to the motor and when released operatively disconnects the control mechanism from the motor, an electromagnet which when energized holds said one gear stationary, an electric circuit for the motor and electromagnet, means for slmul- 20 taneously energizing the motor and electromagnet to cause the control mechanism to move to its second position and thereafter deenergizing the electromagnet to permit the control mechanism to return to its biased position, and a switch which 25 is operated by the control mechanism and is closed when the control mechanism is in its biased position and is open when the control mechanism is in its second position and is connected in series with the motor. 8C

13. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, a control mechanism normally biased to a first position, a planetary gear train connected thereto, an actuator for the planetary gear train, and means for holding one of the gears 3: of the planetary gear train stationary to provide a driving connection between the actuator and the control mechanism whereby the latter may be moved to a second position by the former and to prevent return of the control mechanism to its 4 first position by the biasing means, said gear train being non-reversible when the said gear is held against rotation and said control mechanism returning quickly to its biased position without revolving the whole planetary gear train in reverse 4: direction upon release oi said holding means.

14. A device or the class described comprising in combination, a valve normally biased to one position, a planetary gear train connected thereto, an actuator for the gear train, means for holding 5 one of the gears of the planetary gear train stationary whereby the valve may be moved to a second position under power transferred through said planetary gear train, and means for operating said holding means independently of said 55 actuator whereby the valve may be held in its second position independently of the actuator, said valve returning quickly to its first position without revolving the whole planetary gear train in reverse direction upon release oi! said holding 6( means.

15. A device oi the class described comprising, a control element having first and second positions, an electric motor for moving said element to its second position, a gear train between the control 55 element and the motor including one gear which when held stationary operatively connects the motor to the control element and when released operatively disconnects the motor from the control element, biasing means of sufiicient strength to 7 move the control element to its first position only when said one gear is released, electrical holding means which when energized hold said one gear stationary, an electric circuit for the motor and holding means, a main control switch in the circuit 7:

which when closed energizes both the motor and holding means whereupon the control element is slowly moved to its second position through the entire gear train, a normally closed switch which is opened when the control element reaches its second position thereby to deenergize the motor only, said control element remaining in its second position until the holding means is deenergized by the opening of the main control switch.

WILLIS H. GILLE. GEORGE D. BOWER. 

